steven's world

My day started out with a failed attempt to get out of bed. Not because of the usual suspects; my back, lack of sleep (due to my back), all-night creative binge. It was something new. I couldn’t walk without very sharp pains shooting up into my hip. I’ve never broken a bone, but I have to say this must feel similar. It felt as though my leg had been broken and bones were rubbing against each other.

For a few weeks now I have been having trouble with my right leg. I got a really good start exercising for my new “diabetes diet”. I was walking 2-3 times a week, plus the suggested 15 minute “bouts of activity” like vaccuuming or walking at the local mall. But, one day I went on one of my 10-12 block walks around the neighborhood and I suddenly had very sharp pains from my knee up to my hip. I just ignored it and said to myself, “you’re fat…get over it…move on”. After pushing on for a few days it progressively got worse, so when I went in to see my general physician last week I mentioned it to him while we were taking care of my monthly lab work. At this point it had gotten so bad, I couldn’t take long walks at all because it is hurting so badly. My weight had plateaued due to the lack of exercise. My sugar levels were elevated.

The doc told me that I probably had what’s called bursitis, a swelling of the small “gel pacs that allow your body to make fluid movements without muscle touching bone”. He prescribed three ibuprofen a day (I’m already taking three a day for my back) and call him back if it gets worse. Along with that he gave me a medication that should help with my sugar levels and weight loss.

Wednesday came and went without any further issue. Thursday was fine. Friday was a bit more painful, but it faded that night. Saturday I began to feel constant pain in my hip versus my leg with sharp pains when I moved my leg forward. On Sunday, I again tried to ignore it. We went to the mall, the movies and some grocery shopping. I was making it along okay with the aid of a walking cane. Sunday night was very painful. I had a constant pain (a 2-3) with bursts of pain (7-8) when I moved my leg forward or put weight on it.

So, this morning I returned to the doctor. He quickly assessed that it was not bursitis, but couldn’t figure out was was going on. For now, he wants to go with two different diagnoses with medication for each. He gave me a steroid, a pain reliever and a muscle relaxer and told me to go home and take all three. I’m supposed to report back to him in the morning with the results.

After a day of what felt like a drug-enduced comma, I have an overwhelming urge for “change”. I don’t know how to describe it. Not anything like “mid-life crisis” changes, just a desire for things to be different. I was making really good progress with my diet and then diabetes slapped me in the face. I was making really good progress with my new diet, sugar monitoring and managing the diabetes and then my leg refused to cooperate. What’s next? My leg will work, but my head falls off when I stand up? LOL I know it sounds ridiculous, but I honestly don’t know what to expect next. I’m just a bit frustrated at the whole process and how things are going.

It’s especially frustrating since everything except my health is going better than ever. Crystal and I are as happy as ever. We are planning a family trip to Europe. Daniel is doing wonderful in school. Spring is coming, so that means we can start kayaking and hiking again (which will make weight loss much easier). I just wish I could pick up a catalog, order a new body and move on.